Where to buy paracetamol as coronavirus crisis continues

WORRIED shoppers have stock-piled paracetamol due to the coronavirus crisis, leading to low supplies in supermarkets and pharmacies.

The coronavirus has quickly spread across the globe, currently with more than 199,000 confirmed cases worldwide.

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So far, there are 1,950 infected people across the UK, while 71 Brits have died from the illness.

A couple of weeks ago, experts warned that the coronavirus could spark a global shortage of paracetamol if the deadly bug continued to spread.

Paracetamol is one of the world’s most widely used pain relievers, but India, which is the world's biggest supplier of generic drugs, recently restricted exports.

It relies on China for almost 70 per cent of the active ingredients in its medicines, but many drug ingredient makers in China have shut or cut output.

But despite concerns, we found there are still places where you can stock up on paracetamol.

Of course, if you buy online, check minimum spends and delivery fees as retailers will usually set limits on how much you have to spend.

We've checked the major online retailers, so it's worth checking your local Aldi and Lidl, pound shops, convenience stores such as Co-op, as well as smaller and independent corner shops.

If you're still able to go to the supermarket, you're likely to have more luck first thing in the morning after it's re-stocked overnight.

You can also ask local stores when they typically re-stock.

To avoid a wasted trip, we'd recommend calling your nearest shop beforehand to check availability as stock is likely to move fast.

Where can I buy paracetamol?

On its website, Superdrug lists as available for 39p.

The pharmacy chain has also listed its own brand painkillers as available, but only for order and collect and that's all store dependent.

This means you'll need to visit your nearest shop to check what it has in store, or use the online stock finder by typing in your postcode.

In Boots, paracetamol has completely sold out but it says that more stock is coming soon, so it's worth checking back.

You may also want to pop to your local to see if they have any in store, as Boots is constantly restocking shelves.

Morrisons has sold out of its own brand paracetamol, but has listed as available for £1.65 per 16-pack.

Stock levels are currently better on Asda's website, which lists its own brand for 30p as available.

Alternatively, you can nab for 60p.

Tesco has sold out of paracetamol online, but Sainsbury's shoppers can get for 70p.

It's worth checking with the supermarkets if they definitely have these in stock, as items can be substituted when being picked for delivery.

When will there be more stock of paracetamol?

Sainsbury's told The Sun it receives "regular deliveries" of paracetamol, but added that it limits each customer to two packs per purchase to help more shoppers get the items they need.

While Superdrug said: "We do currently have stock of own brand paracetamol however we are continually monitoring its availability based on current demand.

"It has always been our policy to limit the volume of any medication containing paracetamol, Ibuprofen, Codiene, Asprin, Ephedrine and Pseudoephedrine or decongestants and any products which cause drowsiness to two units per customer.

"This policy will continue."

Tesco said it restocks shelves as often as possible and also has limits on purchases of paracetamol and other painkillers to two items per person for safety reasons.

We've also contacted Asda, Morrisons and Boots to find out when they're expecting more stock.

We've asked whether they stock up their stores daily, so we'll update this article once we hear back.

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